Upholstery clip



Sept. 26, 1939. c J RENNEKAMP 2,174,073

UPHOLS'I'ERY CLIP Filed May 3, 1938 Patented Sept. 26, 1939 Clarence J. Rennekamp, Silverton, Ohio, assignor to The Auto-Vehicle Parts Company, Newport,

Ky., a corporation of Kentucky Application May 3, 1938, Serial No. 205,767 3 Claims. (01.; 2 4- -73)' This invention relates to improvements in fastening devices of the type commonly employed in the securing of upholstery coverings, such as cloth or other materials, to cushioned seats and the like. More specifically, the present invention is directed to fastening devices for attaching upholstery coverings to the back of the rear seat of automobiles and other similar uses The seat coverings referred to are utilized in protecting or renewing upholstery, and may be obtained fitted to the particular make and model of car and ready for installation. In attaching these seat covers, the usual practice has been to secure them in place with pins or similar pointed instrumentalities embedded in the upholstery of the seats and pierced or engaged through the covering material.

The present invention provides an improved upholstery fastener especially adapted to secure the covering to the top of the back of the rear seat of an automobile. The fastener is in the form of -a ductile metal strip, which is clasped tothe marginal edge of the covering material, and of sufiicient length to be driven in and anchored between the rear upholstery frame and the adjoining frame of the car body.

It is an objective of the invention to provide a fastener in the form of a bendable metal strap of extended length. This strap is provided with fastening means on one end for attachment of the covering material and is provided at the other with a plurality of tangs or barbs disposed along its length which enable the fastener to be driven in and anchored between the upholstery frame and adjoining wall surfaces.

Other objectives and advantages of the invention will be more fully apparent upon reference to the drawing forming a part of the specification:

Figure l is a perspective view of the upholstery fastener and the clinching member in disassociated relationship prior to use.

Figure 2 is a side view of the same.

Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 illustrate the successive steps in attaching the fastener to the covering material to be installed.

Figure 7 is a side view, partially in section, showing the fastener anchored in place between the seat frame and the rear wall surface with the covering material installed.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a modified form of clinching head and clinching plate for the fastener.

Referring specifically to the drawing, the upholstery fastener is formed of a strip of metal providing a body I in the form of a longitudinal strap. One end of the fastener body is rounded as at 2 to facilitate insertion and driving of the strap into crevices or joints of upholstery for a slip in connection.

The oppositeend of the fastener body is provided with a plurality of slots or apertures 3 to receive respective tangs 4 projected from a clinching or cleat plate 5. The clinching plate is utilized for clasping the fastener to the edge of the covering material, the material being placed between the two parts; The clinch plate is preferably of square or rectangular outline and includes along its side edges the plurality of pointed tangs 4 which are turned upward at an angle from one side of the plate. The relative positions of the tangs register with that of the slots 3 adapting the tangs to protrude through the slots and be clinched over onto an upper surface of the fastener with the covering material securely clasped between the fastener and the clinching plate.

For anchoring purposes the shank extension is provided with a plurality of tangs or barbs 6 correspondingly struck outwardly angularly from one side of the shank and. relatively in a line central and longitudinal thereof. The tangs are disposed on a slightly inclined plane with respect to the face of the shank, and project their free ends toward the head portion of the fastener.

After having been driven into a crevice, the fastener is strongly resistant to withdrawal because of the barb-like action of the tangs 6, the free edges of which catch into the surface which they engage. The protruding head portion of the fastener after installation is bent or folded over so as to lie flush with the upper surf-ace of the seat back and thus draw the covering material snugly in place thereover.

The fasteners can be readily and quickly inserted along the upholstery joints of the seat frame and the rear wall, and the covering pulled taut and securely anchored.

The shank of the fastener is provided with nail holes 1 for attachment to the frames of seats in automobiles which have luggage compartments behind the rear seat. The back portion of such seats usually are hinged and may be folded over for access to the luggage compartment. In such installations the fasteners are clasped to the edge of the covering material in the aforesaid manner and tacked or screwed to the frame.

In the fastener head illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, the tangs 4 are integral with the head of the fastener body and are adapted to register with the slots 3 formed in the clinching plate 5.

Attachment to the fabric is effected in the same manner as in the other form, the tangs 4 projecting through the slots 3 and clinched over upon the face of the clinch plate with the fabric clasped between the two members.

Having described my invention, I claim:

7 1. An upholstery covering fastener comprising a strip of ductile sheet metal, one end thereof adapted to slip into a crevice in the upholstery, and having a row of relatively spaced tangs, extending from the body of the strip from one side thereof, providing barbs to withhold retraction of the strip from the crevice, the opposite end of the strip including apertures and a cleat plate engageable over the opposite end of the strip, having a plurality of tangs projecting at an angle therefrom and from opposite ends thereof to penetrate the covering fabric, and extending through respective apertures in the strip and clinched thereon for securing the fabric to the covering fastener.

2. An upholstery covering fastener comprising a strip of sheet metal, one end thereof adapted to slip into a crevice in the upholstery and including tangs extending out from one side of the body of the strip and providing barbs to prevent disengagement of the strip from the crevice. a cleat plate engageable on the opposite end of the strip, said cleat plate and strip including cooperating attaching means consisting of tangs and openings adapted to receive the tangs, said tangs adapted to penetrate the covering fabric and enter the apertures wherein they may be clinched in position for securing the fabric to the fastener.

3. An upholstery covering fastener comprising a strip of ductile sheet metal, one end thereof adapted to slip into a crevice in the upholstery,

and having a row of tangs extending from one side thereof providing barbs to prevent removal of the strip from the crevice, the other end of said strip providing tangs projecting at an angle therefrom and adapted to penetrate the covering fabric and to be clinched for securing the covering fabric to the strip.

CLARENCE J. RENNEKAMP. 

